Being a Gambler during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study with Italian Patients and the Effects of Reduced Exposition - PubMed (original) (raw)
Being a Gambler during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study with Italian Patients and the Effects of Reduced Exposition
Maria Anna Donati et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, with the consequent lockdown of about 3 months, can be viewed as an experimental model to observe the impact of the depletion of environmental factors that stimulate gambling, particularly electronic gambling machines (EGMs) that were set to zero. The effects of some structural characteristics of gambling activities that increase gambling behavior were studied among disordered gamblers in treatment in this unique scenario. In fact, studies investigating the effects of the lockdown on problem gamblers (PGs) under treatment are missing. The aims of this study were to analyze patients' gambling behavior and craving during the lockdown and to conduct a comparison between gambling disorder (GD) symptoms at the beginning of the treatment and during lockdown. The study was conducted in Italy, the European country with the largest gambling market and the first to be affected by the virus. Data were collected through a semi-structured telephone interview conducted by healthcare professionals. Participants were 135 PGs under treatment (109 males, mean age = 50.07). Results showed that most PGs achieved a significant improvement in their quality of life, with less gambling behavior, GD symptoms, and lower craving. No shift toward online gambling and very limited shift towards other potential addictive and excessive behaviors occurred. The longer the treatment, the more monitoring is present and the better the results in terms of symptoms reduction. Individual and environmental characteristics during the lockdown favored the reduction in symptoms. Consideration for prevention and treatment are discussed.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Italy; abstinence; environmental prevention; gambling disorder; gambling restrictions; harm reduction; problem gamblers; telephone interview; treatment.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Similar articles
- What About Affected Family Members of Disordered Gamblers During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Study in Italy During the Lockdown Restrictions.
Donati MA, Capitanucci D, Beccari C, Smaniotto R, Quadrelli E, Casini A, Primi C. Donati MA, et al. Front Psychol. 2022 Apr 26;13:801835. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.801835. eCollection 2022. Front Psychol. 2022. PMID: 35558714 Free PMC article. - The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on gambling habit: A cross-sectional study from Italy.
Lugo A, Stival C, Paroni L, Amerio A, Carreras G, Gorini G, Mastrobattista L, Minutillo A, Mortali C, Odone A, Pacifici R, Tinghino B, Gallus S. Lugo A, et al. J Behav Addict. 2021 Jul 20;10(3):711-721. doi: 10.1556/2006.2021.00033. J Behav Addict. 2021. PMID: 34283804 Free PMC article. - Gambling behaviors during COVID-19: a narrative review.
Sachdeva V, Sharma S, Sarangi A. Sachdeva V, et al. J Addict Dis. 2022 Apr-Jun;40(2):208-216. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2021.1971942. Epub 2021 Sep 17. J Addict Dis. 2022. PMID: 34533420 Review. - Loot boxes use, video gaming, and gambling in adolescents: Results from a path analysis before and during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown in Italy.
Primi C, Sanson F, Vecchiato M, Serra E, Donati MA. Primi C, et al. Front Psychol. 2022 Sep 27;13:1009129. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009129. eCollection 2022. Front Psychol. 2022. PMID: 36237679 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
- Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gambling Behavior in Mainland Chinese Gamblers in Macau: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.
Zhou J, Ho HW, Chan C. Zhou J, et al. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Apr 22;8:e45700. doi: 10.2196/45700. JMIR Form Res. 2024. PMID: 38648630 Free PMC article. - Craving in gambling disorder: A systematic review.
Mallorquí-Bagué N, Mestre-Bach G, Testa G. Mallorquí-Bagué N, et al. J Behav Addict. 2023 Feb 13;12(1):53-79. doi: 10.1556/2006.2022.00080. Print 2023 Mar 30. J Behav Addict. 2023. PMID: 36787136 Free PMC article. Review. - The Predictive Role of Tolerance and Health Problems in Problem Gambling: A Cross-Sectional and Cross-Lagged Network Analyses.
Horváth Z, Paksi B, Fernández-Aranda F, Jiménez-Murcia S, Demetrovics Z. Horváth Z, et al. J Gambl Stud. 2023 Dec;39(4):1781-1798. doi: 10.1007/s10899-023-10191-5. Epub 2023 Feb 4. J Gambl Stud. 2023. PMID: 36738377 Free PMC article. - Mental Health Impact of Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals with Pre-Existing Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Research.
Kunzler AM, Lindner S, Röthke N, Schäfer SK, Metzendorf MI, Sachkova A, Müller-Eberstein R, Klinger C, Burns J, Coenen M, Lieb K. Kunzler AM, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 4;20(2):948. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20020948. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023. PMID: 36673705 Free PMC article. Review. - Gamblers' Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Gambling Behaviours: Analysis of Free-Text Responses Collected through a Cross-Sectional Online Survey.
Renard M, Audette-Chapdelaine S, Savard AC, Kairouz S, Brodeur M. Renard M, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16603. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416603. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 36554483 Free PMC article.
References
- Abbott M., Binde P., Clark L., Hodgins D., Johnson M., Manitowabi D., Quilty L., Spångberg J., Volberg R., Walker D., et al. Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling: An International Collaboration. 3rd ed. Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO); Guelph, ON, Canada: 2018. [(accessed on 1 November 2020)]. Available online: http://hdl.handle.net/10292/12269.
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical